Are you considering a new strategic plan or contemplating partnering with another organization? Robert Harrington describes how you can use the La Piana Consulting methodology, Real-Time Strategic Planning, to evaluate whether a merger or collaboration is right for your organization. His article describes the basics of RTSP in the context of nonprofit collaboration.
{loadposition user5}
By Bob Harrington and Lester Olmstead-Rose
Created in partnership with the Blue Shield of California Foundation’s Blue Shield Against Violence Program, this publication shares research, survey results, and lessons learned about the status of collaborative partnerships in the domestic violence field. These materials were developed to help spur conversations about collaboration field-wide and to inspire additional exploration of how innovative partnerships can help strengthen the work of domestic violence organizations in California. Download the PDF.
{loadposition user5}
The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution: Real-Time Strategic Planning in a Rapid-Response World
http://www.fieldstonealliance.org/
The fact is, the world changes continuously and rapidly. It’s foolhardy to believe that strategies should not do so as well. Nonprofit leaders already know this, but traditional strategic planning has locked them into a process that’s divorced from today’s reality. That’s why plans sit on the shelf and why smart executives are always seeking workarounds in between planning periods.
The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution offers a nimble and powerful alternative. In this ground-breaking book, strategy expert David La Piana introduces “Real-Time Strategic Planning,” a fluid, organic process that engages staff and board in a program of systematic readiness and continuous responsiveness. With it, your nonprofit will be able to identify, understand, and act on challenges and opportunities as they arise—not in six months when the “plan” is done.
Strategic thinking begins with a clear understanding of strategy. To help you grasp this essential but often-confusing concept, the Strategy Pyramid offers a simple, graphical framework. You’ll learn about the three types of strategies—organizational, programmatic, and operational—and how they align to contribute to the overall aim.
Instead of a hodgepodge of unrelated goals and activities that ultimately lead to inertia or total chaos, you’ll learn to develop true strategies—coordinated actions that pull the organization in the same direction, toward the same ends. That is revolutionary.
At the heart of this practical book is the Real-Time Strategic Planning Cycle. Based on four years of research and testing with a variety of nonprofits, this proven process guides you through the steps to sound strategy.
You’ll find tools for:
- Clarifying your competitive advantage—where your organization fits in its marketplace, who your competitors are, and what sets you apart from the pack.
- Generating a strategy screen—criteria for evaluating strategies. The next time a critical issue pops up, you’ll have strategic principles in place and be able to respond quickly.
- Handling big questions—the opportunities or threats that require development of a new strategy in order to respond.
- Developing and testing strategies—reduce the chances of picking the wrong strategy.
- Implementing and adapting strategies—learn how to continuously probe for crises and opportunities—not just once every three years.
This useful guide also includes:
- Exhibits and case examples showing how concepts play out in real-life
- A total of 27 tools—10 of which are essential for forming strategies
- Theory to Action sidebars telling you which tool to use for a given task
- A CD with all the tools and interactive worksheets you’ll need
Kick off the process with a one-day Real-Time Strategic Planning session. In seven hours you’ll have formed the backbone needed to develop strategies going forward. The Facilitator’s Guide to Real-Time Strategic Planning (also on the CD) gives you everything you need: the day’s agenda, instructions for preparing flip charts, prework to be done, handouts, and worksheets.
Because the work is done by the staff, not a consultant, your organization will learn key skills, take ownership of the process, and increase its capacity to think and act strategically.
Use The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution and get the clarity and direction you need for maximum mission success.
